PROTECTOR ELEMENT

Abstract: The invention relates to a protector element (2) formed from a plastic sheet or strip article (1) which has a planar part (3) and a planar part (4) having a notched formation, the part extending from a crease line (5) to define an angle between them such that the element is flexible and can be formed to a radius to be mounted on an edge of a coil of say steel to protect same from damage.

Description: PROTECTOR ELEMENT The invention relates to a protector element, particularly to an element which can be used for a variety of purposes, for example as a protector for rolls or coils of metal such as steel, or as a shelter for growing plants. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a protector element for protecting an article comprising two parts connected along a crease line, characterised by means to grip a wrapping material in use applied to the article. The grip means may comprise a series of protuberances at or adjacent the crease line. This provides for an optimum position of the grip means. The grip means may comprise stitching traversing the crease line substantially along the length thereof, and the stitching may pass through a series of holes flanking the crease line, which holes may be pre-formed. This provides for relatively simple application of the grip means, particularly where the stitching may comprise a thread such as an elastic thread. Thus as the thread passes from hole to hole over the crease line, it provides a raised protuberance or grip means. The grip means comprising a series of raised teeth located on either or both of the parts or substantially along the crease line. The raised teeth may comprise a linear array. The teeth may comprise elevated notches standing proud of the parts, or crease line. The teeth may comprise one or more lines of raised, inclined teeth formed from the material of the element and being inclined substantially in the same direction. The material of the element may comprise a plastic material and the teeth may be formed by application of heat and/or pressure to the material of the element. This provides for an integral construction of the element. The parts may be sheet parts including an angle therebetween of substantially 90°. The element may be in the form of a reliable strip element and may comprise means to allow application of the element to a curved surface. This enables the element to be provided on or as a roll or coil, from which a desired length may be cut to form an element of a desired length. One part of the element may comprise a series of tongues separated by notches which may terminate short of the crease line, and by said means being disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches. This construction provides for formation of the element to a curve from a linear formation, without buckling, whilst also ensuring no splaying apart of the notches. The means may be formed by application of heat and/or pressure, and the notches may be of substantially V-shape. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a protection an element comprising two parts extending along from a crease line, characterised by means to allow application of the element to a curved surface. One part of the element may comprise a series of tongues separated by notches which terminate short of the crease line, and said means may be disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches, which may be of substantially N-shape. The means may comprise a local crushing and/or stretching of the material of the element. The means may be formed by application of heat and/or pressure. The protector element may include in combination the second means to allow application to a curved surface and means to grip a wrapping material in use applied to the article. The grip means may comprise a series of protuberances at or adjacent the crease line. The grip means may comprise stitching traversing the crease line substantially along the length thereof. The stitching may pass through a series of holes flanking the crease line, which holes may be pre-formed. The stitching may comprise a thread, particularly an elastic thread. The grip means may alternatively comprise a series of raised teeth located on either or both of the parts or substantially along the crease line. The raised teeth may comprise a linear array, for example a series of elevated notches standing proud of the sheet parts, or crease line. The teeth may comprise one or more lines of raised, inclined teeth formed from the material of the element and being inclined substantially in the same direction. The material of the element may comprise a plastic material and the teeth may be formed by application of heat and/or pressure to the material of the element. The parts may be sheet parts including an angle therebetween of substantially 90°. One part of the element may comprise a series of tongues separated by notches which terminate short of the crease line, and said means may be disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an article having a curved surface to which a protector element as hereinbefore defined is applied. Protector elements embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a plan view of part of a length of first embodiment of protector element according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows to a smaller scale a plan view of the protector element in use; Fig. 3 shows schematically part of the protector element of Fig. 1 unrolled; Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of part of a length of a second embodiment of protector element according to the invention; and Figs. 5 and 5 A show respectively a perspective view of an enlarged scale of a section of a length of the protector element of Fig. 4, and a detail 'X' of preferred grip or retaining means. Referring to the drawings, in which like parts are shown by like reference numerals, there is shown a sheet article 1 , which is Tollable, and when unrolled defines an angular protector element 2 comprising at least two sheet parts 3 and 4. The sheet material 1 is suitably of extruded plastic material such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark CORREX. The material has a body having the two integral parts 3, 4 defined by a crease line 5 suitably formed by pressure rollers, ultra sound, ultra sonic rollers, scoring or during extrusion. The crease line 5 is flanked by two series of perforations 6 through which stitching 11 suitably zig-zag and in the form of a thread or elastic, is passed, the crease line 5 and perforations 6 running parallel to the flute direction 7. The protector element 2 has a planar part 3 and a part 4 which is also planar but has a free edge, opposite the crease line 5 defined by a sine curve such that sheets, articles, or blanks can be cut from one blank with no waste, the sine curve defining tongues 4a separated by notches or incisions 4b which do not extend to the crease line 5. The protector element 2 is flexible and can be rolled tightly on itself, and delivered in any length desired. A user can cut a desired length from the delivered length, and when the roll is unrolled, the protector element automatically folds into the angled element 2 about the crease line 6 to form the two parts 3, 4, which are suitably at about 90° to one another, though other angles are possible. The zig-zag stitching 11 ensures this action. The unfolded protector element can then be placed on the outer perimeter of a roll 12 say a roll of paper or steel, or on the (hollow) inside, for protecting the edges. The stitching 11 also acts as a grip for stretch film which is usually used to wrap the roll and which is applied to the roll 12 after the edge strip 2 is applied. Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, 5 A of the drawings, there is shown another embodiment of a sheet article 1, which is flexible and reliable, and which when unrolled defines a protector element 2 comprising at least two parts 3 and 4. The protector element 2 is in the embodiment made of extruded plastic material such as that sold under the Registered Trade Mark CORREX. The parts 3 and 4 are integral and are set at about 90° to one another about a crease or fold line 5 which is formed in the sheet of material 1 by heating, such as by an ultrasonic welding technique or by a heated nose and platen arrangement. The parts 3 and 4 are held at 90° in a suitable jig during this operation so that when the crease line 5 sets, the parts 3 and 4 are at the desired angle of about 90°. One part 4 comprises a longitudinally extending series of integral parts, tongues or wings 4a formed in the material and separated by notches or incisions 4b cut in the material by a suitable knife. The notches or incisions 4b are of substantially 'V- shape and their respective roots terminate short of the crease line 5, the material of the protector element 2 against the crease line 5 being crushed, or crushed and/or stretched, to give a "springy" region 8 at the root of each notch or incision 4b. The crushed and stretched area 8 is formed in the material of the protector element 2 by application of heat and pressure by a suitable tool, and provides an inherent "springiness" longitudinally of the protector element 2 so that when in use the element is folded to form a cylinder, the tongues or wings 4a draw together and close up the notches or incisions 4b and the crushed or stretched regions or areas 8 provide for a certain elasticity whereby the protector element 2, mounted on for example the edge of a roll of steel can receive and absorb impacts without disruption of the element itself or transmission of the force of the blow to the steel roll, which thus remains protected. Referring to Fig. 5, a section of a protector element 2 is shown having a line of raised teeth 9 disposed along the crease line 5, and which are formed in the sheet material along the crease line 5 by applying for example an ultrasonic welding technique. The teeth are raised notches which are inclined in the same direction along the crease line 5, see Fig. 5A The protector element 2 can be used to protect the outer periphery of a roll or an inner periphery at a hollow roll core. The teeth 9 provide a simple and efficient method of securing a shrink wrapping on a roll of material to which a protector embodying the invention has been applied. The teeth prevent splitting of the shrink film on the edge of the roll, while gripping it to stop it slipping. In each embodiment of the invention, the 90° configuration of the protector element 2 allows that element to be mounted directly onto a curved edge of say a cylindrical roll of material such as strip steel. Moreover, as the roots of the notches lib in Figs. 4, 5, 5A do not extend to the crease line, there is no splaying apart of the tongues 4a and thus there is always a part of the material of the part 4 covering the edge of the roll 12, so that the whole circumference thereof is protected, and no edge part is exposed. The cushions 8 also enable the element 2 which is inherently flexible, to be formed from a straight strip to a curve, the notches 4b closing up, without buckling of the element. Furthermore the protector element holds a coil of a roller while rotation takes place to apply the stretch film packaging. If the element 2 is of appropriate size, it can be erected to provide a shelter for a growing plant.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A protector element for protecting an article, comprising two parts extending from a crease line, characterised by means to grip a wrapping material in use applied to the article. 2. A protector element according to claim 1, characterised by the grip means comprising a series of protuberances at or adjacent the crease line. 3. A protector element according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised by the grip means comprising stitching traversing the crease line substantially along the length thereof. 4. A protector element according to claim 3, characterised by the stitching passing through a series of holes flanking the crease line. 5. A protector element according to claim 4, characterised by the holes being pre-formed. 6. A protector element according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterised by the stitching comprising a thread. 7. A protector element according to any of Claims 3 to 6, characterised by the stitching comprising elastic. 8. A protector element according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised by the grip means comprising a series of raised teeth located on either or both of the parts or substantially along the crease line. 9. A protector element according to claim 8, characterised by the raised teeth comprising a linear array. 10. A protector element according to claim 9, characterised by the teeth comprising elevated notches standing proud of the sheet parts, or crease line. 11. A protector element according to any of claims 8 to 10, characterised by the teeth comprising one or more lines of raised, inclined teeth formed from the material of the element and being inclined substantially in the same direction. 12. A protector element according to any of claims 8 to 11, characterised by the material of the element comprising a plastic material and by the teeth being formed by application of heat and/or pressure to the material of the element. 13. A protector element according to any preceding claim, characterised by the parts being sheet parts including an angle therebetween of substantially 90°. 14. A protector element according to any preceding claim, characterised by being in the form of a rollable strip element and by means to allow application of the element to a curved surface. 15. A protector element according to any preceding claim, characterised by one part of the element comprising a series of tongues separated by notches which terminate short of the crease line, and by said means being disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches. 16. A protector element according to claim 15, characterised by the means being formed by application of heat and/or pressure. 17. A protector element according to claim 15 or claim 16, characterised by the notches being substantially of N-shape. 18. A protector element for protecting an article, comprising two parts extending from a crease line, characterised by means to allow application of the element to a curved surface. 19. A protector element according to claim 18, characterised by one part of the element comprising a series of tongues separated by notches which terminate short of the crease line, and by said means being disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches. 20. A protector element according to claim 19, characterised by the means comprising a local crushing and/or stretching of the material of the element. 21. A protector element according to claim 20, characterised by the means being formed by application of heat and/or pressure. 22. A protector element according to any of claims 20 to 22, characterised by the notches being of N-shape. 23. A protector element according to any preceding claim, characterised by being formed from a sheet material which is creased to provide a crease line defining the parts. 24. A protector element according to any of claims 18 to 23, characterised by means to grip a wrapping material in use applied to the article. 25. A protector element according to claim 24, characterised by the grip means comprising a series of protuberances at or adjacent the crease line. 26. A protector element according to claim 24 or claim 25, characterised by the grip means comprising stitching traversing the crease line substantially along the length thereof. 27. A protector element according to claim 26, characterised by the stitching passing through a series of holes flanking the crease line. 28. A protector element according to claim 27, characterised by the holes being pre-formed. 29. A protector element according to any of claims 26 to 28, characterised by the stitching comprising a thread. 30. A protector element according to any of Claims 26 to 29, characterised by the stitching comprising elastic. 31. A protector element according to any of claims 18 to 26, characterised by the grip means comprising a series of raised teeth located on either or both of the parts or substantially along the crease line. 32. A protector element according to claim 31, characterised by the raised teeth comprising a linear array. 33. A protector element according to claim 32, characterised by the teeth comprising elevated notches standing proud of the parts, or crease line. 34. A protector element according to any of claims 31 to 33, characterised by the teeth comprising one or more lines of raised, inclined teeth formed from the material of the element and being inclined substantially in the same direction. 35. A protector element according to any of claims 31 to 34, characterised by the material of the element comprising a plastic material and by the teeth being formed by application of heat and/or pressure to the material of the element. 36. A protector element according to any of claims 18 to 35, characterised by the parts being sheet parts including an angle therebetween of substantially 90°. 37. A protector element according to any of claims 18 to 36, characterised by one part of the element comprising a series of tongues separated by notches which terminate short of the crease line, and by said means being disposed at or adjacent the root of at least some of the notches. 38. A protector element according to any of claims 18 to 37, characterised by being in the form of a rollable strip element. 39. A protector element according to any preceding claim, characterised by being in the form of a rollable stop element. 40. An article having a curved surface, to which a protection element according to any preceding claim is applied.

Inventors: HAINES CLIVE PETER, HAINES, CLIVE, PETER
Applicants: HAINES CLIVE PETER, SMITH DAVID S PACKAGING, DAVID S. SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED, HAINES, CLIVE, PETER
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D85
IPC codes: B65D85